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Stories |  |
Chapter 2 |  |
Toki's Tale
Against a melodramatic background of rain, lightning and thunder, the
dark shape of a Gargoyle swooped down to the monastery door. In one
hand she carried a bundle, in the other; a sword.
Cursing Seraf for his black sense of humour, she lay the bundle in the
lee of the monastery and pounded on the heavy oaken doors, splitting
and cracking the wood. She grinned with satisfaction as half the monastery awoke, and knelt
down beside the bundle and placed a silver pendant, shaped like a
sword, inside.
Unsheathing her sword and tensing for a battle she could never win,
she flew away to her death.
One of the oaken doors crept open, pushed by two Ettins dressed in
green robes. Another Ettin, dressed in silver armour, stepped outside
and examined the bundle. He scooped it up in one hand and walked back
inside, gesturing with his other hand for the door to be closed.
The bundle was a baby Norn, wrapped in thick cloth to keep her warm.
Her skin was dark blue-grey, her hair was dark brown and her eyes were
dark orange. The pendant lay on her chest, the chain curled around it.
Four Ettins sat around the circular table where the baby lay. Three
were dressed in silver armour, but the fourth was dressed in shining
gold armour instead.
"It is a Norn. We find one of it's kind and let them take it in. We
have no business with it," one said, standing up and reaching for the
baby.
"Wait, Paerus. Fate has delivered this child unto us. We are obliged to
raise it and teach it in our wise ways." another spoke.
"Let the big-ears raise it themselves." snorted Paerus contemptuously.
"No! Kaera is right, Paerus. We must raise it in our ways!"
The baby, awakened by the argument, pulled itself up and stretched its
arms, legs and wings. The three Ettins glanced at the large wings and
paled.
"Look, Raeque! It is a Daemon!" Paerus yelled, drawing a sword. He
swung it down hard, but the Ettin in gold held out an arm and stopped
it.
"Daemon? No. This is a Gargoyle, a fighter more skilled than you or I.
We must raise it. Fate demands it."
The baby Gargoyle looked around, unaware of what was going on. Raeque
picked it up in one hand and walked to the door of the chamber.
Suddenly he stopped, looking intently at the monk standing by the
door. He nodded in satisfaction, then walked out, smiling.
The monk followed, and under the hood was Fate. He turned into another
corridor and removed the heavy velvet habit. He smiled as swirling
mists surrounded him.
"Enjoy your life," he whispered, "Toki."